Brenda's Bites

Thirty-one years and going strong, the annual city food festival that has become a signature summer event is on deck.
The nation’s largest two-day Taste of Buffalo returns to Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square on July 12 (11am – 9pm) and July 13 (11am – 7pm); for the first time, the new lawn-fete style beer tent in Niagara Square will be open until 11pm on Saturday. Nearly a half-million hungry patrons are expected to converge on the downtown streets whether it’s rain or shine.“Fun by the Forkful” will feature 60 eateries, including 17 new restaurants, Coco-Cola, Labatt and Flying Bison beverages. The pricing is consistent from year-to-year: all items are priced between a buck and $4.
A trio of popular food vehicles: Lloyd’s Taco Truck, RNR BBQ and Frank’s Gourmet Hot Dogs. If you want to wet your whistle with some vino, seven wineries will be pouring some of their best from regional vineyards.
“You won’t leave hungry with more than 220 culinary specialties, ranging from Asian to barbecue to Italian to vegetarian to desserts,” said Ann Hackett, 2014 chairman.
Live local music acts will be on hand for the two day feeding frenzy. By the way, it’s possible to attend the festival and still eat a healthy diet. Did you know the Taste of Buffalo is the only food fest in the U.S. that requires all participating restaurants to offer a healthy menu item? Those samples are lower in fat, cholesterol and sodium.What else is new this year? The Family Freebie: buy $50 in pre-sale food ticket at vouchers at tops and receive 4 free nonalcoholic beverages when redeemed for tickets at a Taste tent.My Taste advice: Wear elastic pants and map out your plan of attack by downloading the guide and map at www.tasteofbuffalo.com.

Coming up on Brenda’s Bites this Sunday, 10:30-11am, on WWKB AM 1520: Leslie Zemsky talking about all the great food available in Larkinville and Illya Lasting scoops us with news on his two ice cream places: Route 16 and Route 20 Ice cream.

Here’s another reason to love Friday. June 6th is National Doughnut Day, celebrated annually on the first Friday in June.
Many area shops are offering sweet deals on this auspicious occasion:

If you say “Happy National Donut Day” when you order, Tim Hortons will serve up one free doughnut with any purchase.
Same deal at Dunkin’ Donuts if you purchase any beverage.
Check Paula’s Donuts website for a free doughnut coupon with the purchase of a cup o’ Joe. The company plans to donate 50 cents to the Salvation Army for every dozen doughnuts sold on the 6th.
Tops has a BOGO special: get a free six-pack of doughnuts for every six-pack purchased through Saturday.
As you munch away, here are a few crumbs of dougnut to trivia to chew on:

The Salvation Army established the first National Doughnut Day in 1938 as a fundraising effort during the Great Depression.

During WWI, Salvation Army volunteers, “Sallies,” offered pies to the soldiers but realized they weren’t practical to make on the road. Donuts could be made on a camp stove.

The original doughnuts didn’t have holes, but were the size and shape of walnuts. That’s how the name was created.

Wonder how “Munchkins” were named at Dunkin’ Donuts? “Munchkins” after the Wizard of Oz characters, figuring the kids would opt for the holes while adults would choose the whole treat.

Just a reminder: The “Brenda’s Bites” radio show is heard every Sunday from 10:30 – 11am on ESPN 1520 on the AM dial.

This Sunday, our guests are Lou Billittier and John DiSciullo from Chef’s Restaurant talking about their new “Garage Pizza” and Jerod Thurber from Leonard Oakes Winery. If you have guest or topic suggestions, drop me a line at balesii@entercom.com or call me at 716-843-0651.